Berkeley comedian W. Kamau Bell (right) filmed one the last episodes of CNN’s “Parts Unknown” with host Anthony Bourdain (left) in Kenya before Bourdain’s death in June. Photo: CNN, CNN

Outside of music, visual art and live theater, there was still a lot to enjoy in Bay Area culture in 2018.

As venues continued to disappear, there were as many opportunities to see comedy as ever, including a new Pet-A-Llama Comedy Festival in Petaluma and expanded showcases in smaller clubs.

The Bay Area also had a strong year for podcasting. And Oakland had arguably its greatest-ever year for movies by local filmmakers. Here are several highlights:

W. Kamau Bell’s last visit with Anthony Bourdain

Berkeley comedian W. Kamau Bell filmed a moving episode of “Parts Unknown” with Anthony Bourdain, visiting Kenya for the first time. The CNN show became even more meaningful after Bourdain died of an apparent suicide in June. The Sept. 23 episode turned out to be Bourdain’s last full episode with the chef/travel host’s narration, and a melancholy yet beautiful experience for Bell.

BrainWash Cafe closes

Technically the laundromat/restaurant/comedy club on Howard Street in San Francisco closed at the end of 2017. But it was too late for our year-end lists, and the impact was felt the most in 2018. The nightly BrainWash comedy shows produced by Tony Sparks were a welcoming venue for fledgling comics. Performers including Ali Wong, Brent Weinbach and Al Madrigal got their start there.

R.I.P. BrainWash Cafe.

Kendra Bowman, 17, of Berkeley High School’s Afro-Haitian Dance performs before a screening of “Black Panther” in Oakland. Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle

Oakland embraces Oakland films

The success of the 2018 movies “Black Panther,” “Blindspotting” and “Sorry to Bother You,” all made by Oakland filmmakers and featuring scenes in Oakland, gave a boost to the Town. The latter two had high-profile premieres in Oakland, and the three films helped boost the Grand Lake Theatre to its best box office year ever. The party atmosphere for Oakland cinema began with a surprise appearance by “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler on opening night and carried through the summer.

The return of Clusterfest

The second Clusterfest comedy festival at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco was arguably stronger than the first, with “The Daily Show” hosts past and present Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah on stage, and a live show debut for Berkeley-raised the Lonely Island.

Amy Schumer was a little off, and the music acts seemed cursed at times. But the comedy and music festival continues to build with top acts and solid depth with its comedy performers.

Tony Sparks, then the producer, hosts Magic Monday Open Mic at the Brainwash Cafe club in San Francisco. The Brainwash has since closed. Photo: Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle

Podcasts No. 1: Bay Area footprint expands

Locally, The San Francisco Chronicle expanded from four to 15 podcasts on major streaming services during the year, while KQED launched its news podcast “The Bay.” Unique and inventive independent new podcasts appeared in all corners of the Bay Area. And the Bay Area’s nationally known podcasters continued to produce excellent work, including Avery Trufelman’s fashion and design podcast “Articles of Interest.”

Podcasts No. 2: “Ear Hustle” podcast host gets out of prison

Radiotopia’s “Ear Hustle” has been excellent for all of its three seasons, with co-host Earlonne Woods telling audio stories from within the walls of San Quentin State Prison. Fans of the show were surprised in November when Gov. Jerry Brown commuted Woods’ sentence. The host had served 21 years of his 31-years-to-life sentence for attempted robbery.